Martin adds Monmouth paper to editing duties

GateHouse Media has expanded the role of Register-Mail Editor Tom Martin to include oversight of three other area publications.

GateHouse Media has expanded the role of Register-Mail Editor Tom Martin to include oversight of three other area publications.

Tony Scott, vice president of the Western Region of GateHouse Media, made the announcement Friday morning. In addition to Martin’s duties as editor of The Register-Mail, he now oversees the news operations at the Daily Review Atlas, The Paper and the Oquawka Current.

“Tom has a wealth of experience and truly understands the role of a community newspaper,” said Scott. “Over the next few weeks and months, I am confident our readers will take note of the many positive changes.”

As regional editor, Martin says his first order of business will be to hire an editor in Monmouth.

“We have some turnover there, which provides a chance to build upon the existing staff,” Martin said. “I see a lot of opportunity in Monmouth, and I hope we can improve the quality of the newspaper there.”

Martin plans to pick up with at least one of the initiatives already in place, using the recently established Reader Advisory Board. “We definitely need to open the door to readers and find out what they want,” Martin said.

The Daily Review Atlas publishes six times per week. The Oquawka Current and The Paper are weekly newspapers.

Martin, 47, was hired as The Register-Mail editor in July of 2003. Before that he edited newspapers in Princeton, Macomb and Carthage, starting in 1991. He’s a graduate of Carl Sandburg College and the University of Iowa.